Motorized burner controller



June 4, 1940.

B. CYR

MQTORIZED BURNER CONTROLLER Zhomtot June 4; .1940. B. CYR 2,203,613

MOTORIZED BURNER CONTROLLER Filed Nov. 17, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 B. cm 2,203,513

' MOTORIZED BURNER CONTROLLER I Filed Nov. 17, 193s 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FAN MOTOR. i i I92 June 4, 1940. cm 2,203,613

MOTORIZED BURNER CONTROLLER Filed Nov. 17, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ihwmtor Bemjuuniln Gyms 3 v Livy/ L! Patented June 4, i940 I UNITED ST TES PATENT OFFICE 2,203.01: Mo'roBIzEn BURNER comaorma Benjamin Cyr, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Delaware Application November 17, 1938, Serial No. 240,979 15-Claims. (or 131-144 The present invention is concerned with a control valve assembly taken substan y on motorized burner controller and more particularly'with a motorized fuel valve having provision for operating a secondary air dampen. In the copending application of Sylvanus C. Shipley, Serial No. 753,557, which has matured into Patent No. 2,159,624, issued May 23, 1939,

there is disclosed a motorized fuel valve in which the motor actuates not only the valve but also an arm which projects outside of the motor hous- 0 An object of the present invention is to provide a motorized fuel valvewith an-associated secondary air damper arm movable with, the valve .in which improved means are provided for preventingthe valve from being opened by manipulation of the secondary air damper arm.'

A further object of the present invention is to M damper arm consists of a strain release connecprevious object in which means are provided for tion. The stem 2| is slidably i in 5519676 preventing opening of the valve by the motor if guide member 22 which is secured to a cupthe strain release connection .is extended. Shaped pporting member 2|. located beneath A still further object of the present in e t is the lower surface of the cup-shaped member 24 to provide a motorized vafive in which the motor e a disc "vi Packing Washer 25 and a mud unit is mounted with respect to the valve so that disc The assembly consisting of the discs 0 the former may be selectively swivelled withre- 2s a are secured mgether and to the i spect to the latt'en shaped supporting member 24 by means of rivets A still further object of the presentv invention 535 ,3522? g gfi sgggz g ggg g h 43 is to provide a motorized valve in which the power In order to efiectively sea-J the valve casing umt can be removed from the valve without openagainst leakage of fluid therefiom, a diaphragm mg of valve 31 is secured to the upper end of the valve stem A still further ob ect of the present invention 2| by clamp-mg the diaphragm a between nut is to provide a motorized valve in which the 34 and a washer 35, the clamping action being no power unit is secured to the valve by means inefiected by a t 3g screwed on th gr w. '0

tion between a portion of the damper arm and the valve.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement such as set forth in the eluding only one threaded fastening member. 1

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the accompanying spec iflcation, claims, and drawings, of which:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of the I tions of other speciesof the invention.

the line l-l of Figure 2;

Figure -2 is an end elevational view of the same looking from the right in Figure 1 and showing the cover in section along the line 22 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view looking towards the right in Figure 2, a portion of the mechanism being shown in section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the structure shown in Figures 1 to 3 embodied in a burner control system;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a modified form of the invention, and

Figures 6 and 7 are further showings of por- Referring now to. Figures 1 to 4, the control valve generally designated at 9 has a valve casin I! having inlet and outlet openings II and I2 respectively. The valve casing II has a transverse wall ll having a port opening M therein which is encompassed by an annular shoulder to form a valve seat IS. The valve member comprises a valve disc l6 adapted to seat on the an- 1 nular seat l5, reinforcing washers I1 and II flanking the valve disc Ii, said valve disc I and said reinforcing washers I1 and being securely clamped together by means of a plug l9 and a a nut 29 screwed thereon.

Extending into the plug it of the valve member I is a valve stem 2|, the plug l9, and the valve stem 2! having holes to receive a pin 22 to secure the valve stem 2! and plug I! together in fixed relathreaded portion ill of the valve stem 2|. The outer edgepf the diaphragm v2'I is clamped between the support 24 and a power unit base memtening, means (not shown) are two upright, spaced parallel plates 48 and 4| (as best shown in Figure 2), the plates 48 and 4| being held in spaced relation by bolts 48 cooperating with nuts 45 to clamp the plates 48 and 4| against spacer members 44.

A motor, generally designated at 46, is-secured to and spaced from the vertical plate 48 by means of screws 41 and spacers 48. The motor shaft extends through the plate 48 and has amotor pinion 48 located on the end thereof (as shownin Figure v1). Located between the plates 48 and 4| and driven by t' e motor pinion 49 is a reduction gear train, comprising a gear 58 engaging the motor pinion 48, agear 52 engaging a pinion ll integral with the gear 58, and a gear 54 engaging a pinion 53 integral with the gear 52.

and 4|.

Surrounding the operating mechanism of the valve is a cover member 58. This cover member slidably engages-the base member 38 and is held in position by a nut and bolt assembly 58 which spacer 83 jo'urnalled on a pin 64 extending between the two plates 48 and 4|. Pivotally secured 'to an intermediate portion of the lever assembly by a pin '85 is a yoke member 88, which yoke member surrounds and is adapted to engage the base portion of a second yoke member: 82 screw threaded to the upper end of the valve stem 2|.

"The yoke member 82 bears at its upper end against the under side of pivot pin 65. Pivotally secured to the left-hand end of the lever assembly 6|, as viewed from Figure 1, is a member 51 which is provided with'a hook 58 adjacent its upper end. This hook 88 is adapted to be engaged by a pin 89 secured to and movable with gear 54 of the gear train. A coil spring I8 surrounds the pivot'pin II which connects member that the hook 58 lies in the pathoi the pin 88.

Upon energization of the motor, the gear 54 is rotated in a. clockwise direction causing the pin 88 to engage the hook 88 and lift member 81 upwardly. The upward movement of member 81 causes a clockwise movement of the lever assembly 5| with the result that yoke member 86 is moved upwardly and engages and lifts yoke mam-- ber 82 so that valve stem 2| is lifted upwardly,

. moving the valve to open position.

. The structure which has so far been described is inmost-respects similar to the apparatus of the above mentioned Shipley application. In this Bhipley application, there was only one lever member corresponding to the lever assembly 8|.

In-the present structure this lever assembly com- Drises'two members 88 and 8| which are pivotally Joined by a pivot member 82. A biasing spring" 83 is secured at its lower end to the lever m'ember 8|"and at its upperend to the spacer member 44. The left end 01' the lever member 8| is provided with a hook portion 84 which is adapted to' rest on the spacer 83whichforms part of the pivotal mounting of the lever assembly 6|. It can be readily seen that the spring 88 serves to urge lever 8| in a counter-clockwisedirection so that the hook portion 84 isilrmly pressed against The"- gears and pinions are suitably mounted and spaced between the upright parallel plates 48 upon the position of the valve.

the spacer 63. By reason of this engagement of hook portion 84 with spacer 63, the two members 88 and 8| are heldin rigid relation as though they constituted asin e member. Spring 83, furthermore, not'only tends to hold members 88 and 8| in rigid relation to each other but also tends to rotate the entire lever assembly 6| about the pivot constituted by spacer 83 and hence to bias thewalve- 8 to closed position.

I The two lever members 88 and Bi functioning together as a unit, are used to control the position of a secondary air damper as will be pointed out in more detail later. For this purpose, the member 8| is provided with a plurality of holes 88 for the application of a suitable connecting member 88 between the lever member 8| and a. secondary air damper 98 (show in Figure 4). As will be noted from Figure 4, the species of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 is particularly adapted for use'with a secondary air damper .which is biased to an open position and is permitted to move to open position upon opening of the valve. This'form of secondary air damper is 'quite desirable inasmuch as it insures that if anything happens to the connecting means 89, the secondary air damper will go to the open position which is the safe position.

While the two lever members 88 and 8| normally function as though they were a single unit, it is impossible to open the valve by manipulation of member 8'. As pointed out in connection with the aforementioned Shipley application, it is quite undesirable for the average layman to be able to manually open a gas valve. If it is possible for him to readily open the valve, he will do so in the event of power failure; often when the pilot burner is not lighted. The result is that a very serious explosion is apt to be produced upon subsequent ignition of the pilot burner. As pointed out about, in the previous application a lever. 'In the present invention, this is accom-' plished by reason of the strain release connection provided between members 88 and 8|, including the-pivotat connection therebetween and the biasing spring 83. It will readily be apparent that it an attempt is made to open the valve 8| from outside of the cover 58, such attempt will result only in the rotation of lever 8| in a clockwise direction. Hook 84 will merely move away from spacer 63 and there will be no movement whatsoever of lever 88. It will be noted that the spring 83 which is the biasing spring for the valve also serves as the spring means for the strain release connection between the two lever members 88 and 8|. Thus with the construction of the'present invention it is unnecessary to provide any stop whatsoever, since movement of lever 8| in valve opening direction has no effect The service man or other person familiar with the valve construction-can very quickly open the valveif it is. desired to do so inthe event of power failure. All that it is necessary to do to 7 ope the valve is to move the nut of the clamping assembly 58, and then remove the cover 58. The left-hand end of lever member 88 is provided with aflnger piece 82 whereby the lever 88 can be conveniently located in a clockwise direction by pulling up onthis finger piece. Means are provided fo'r'maintaining the valve in open position in the event of power failure. This means consists of a pin '84 (best shown in Figure 2).

which is iournalled in the plate 4| and is adapted to be moved inwardly underneath the lever 88. The pin 94 is biased to open position by spring 96 interposed between plate 4| and a collar 91 of insulating material secured to pin 94. pin 94 is moved inwardly against the bias of spring 96, the action ofbiasing spring 83 on the 'leverassembly 6| serves to frictionally hold the carried by a rigid support I88 as best seen in Figure 3, this support being secured to insulating plate I 35. The contact 98 is carried by a flexible contactblade I8I, the end of which lies in the path of movement of the insulating col-. lar 91. The flexible contact member IN is biased -in the direction of contact member I88 means of a spring II2.

so as to tend to move contacts 98 and 99 in engagement. As long as pin 94 is in the position shown in Figure 2, contacts 98 and 99' are out of engagement by reason of the insulated collar 91 engaging the end of flexible contact member I8I. As soon, however, as pin 94 is moved inwardly, contact members 98 and 99 are allowed to move into engagement with each other. The purpose of this will be discussed in more detail later.

In connection with the means for preventing manual opening of the valve by manipulation of lever'8I, I .have further provided means to prevent opening of the valve by the motor if the strain release connection is extended. If some such means as this is not provided, it would be possible for the installer to pull down the lever 8| for connecting the same to the damper 98. This extension of the connection between members 88 and 8| could be carried to a point such that movement of the member 88 in valve opening direction would have no effect upon the position of lever member 8|. The result would be that the secondary air damper 98 would remain closed so that the burner would be operated with inadequate air to properly support combustion. .I. have accordingly found it desirable to find some means for preventing operation of the valve by the motor if lever 8| is pulled downwardly when the valve is in' its closed position. Pivotally secured to the spacer 44 is a member I which if otherwise unrestrained willbe moved by gravity into a position where the outer end-thereof engages the teeth of gear 54. Such movement of lever I85 is normally prevented by link I86 which is forked at its upper end to provide two spaced leg portions I81 and I88. These leg portions I81 and I88 strad-' dle a spacer member 44 and guide the link member I86.- At its lower end the link member I86 .is similarly bifurcated and the twolegs at the v lower end also straddle a spacer member 44. As best seen in'Figure 2, the upper end of' the leg I8'I of link I86 is provided with a shoulder portion I88 which overhangs and engages a shoulder portion II8 of thepivoted memberI85. Link member I86 is normally biased downwardly by The spring H2 is secured at its lower end to a lower spacer mem- 44 and at its upper end to the leg I81 of .link I86. The link I86, by reasonof being biased downwardly, serves to maintain pivoted member When ing around the plate 4I.

I85 in the position shown in Figure 1, in which position, the same is free of the teeth of gear 54. As soon as link member I86 is raised, however, the biasing act? imparted to member I85 is eliminated an this member drops by gravity into a position in which it engages the teeth of gear 54. As indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1 and as shown in full lines in Figure 2, link I86 is provided with a portion II5 bent at right angles to the main portion thereof. This angularly extending portion II 5, as best shown in Figure 1, rests upon the lever assembly 6| at a point immediately above the spacer 68 on which the lever assembly BI is pivoted.

.When the lever assembly 8| is rotated by reason of operation of the motor, such rotation oc curs about the spacer 63 so that the vertical position ,of the upper edge of the lever assemupwardly when the lever assembly 6| is rotated as a unit by reason of operation of the motor. If the lever 8| is manually rotated independently of lever 88, however, such rotation occursabout the pivot pin 82. The result is that the upper edge of the hook portion 84 of lever 8| is raised vertically so as to move link member I86 upwardly and thus release the biasing actionv of spring II2 on member I85. This permits the member I85 to drop into engagement wlth'the teeth of the gear 54, as previously explained. Thusif the installershould, in connectingthe' lever -8| with the damper 98, place too much tension upon the connecting member 89, it will be impossible for the motor to open the valve.

Since it is the universal practice of those installing gas heating equipment to start theburner up by operation of the valve motor as a arrangement, it is accordingly impossible for the arm 8| to be left in the position such as to prevent complete opening of the secondary airdamper.

In those cases in which it is desired to be able to operate the valve from the exterior of the cover member 58, 'a pair of aligning holes are provided in members 88 and 8|. at I84. One of these two holes is threaded so that a screw may be inserted through the otherhole ands'ecured in the threaded one. As soon as this screw is secured in the two holes, the two lever members 88 and 8| function at all times as a single unit. It-is thus possible'to supply the valve with or without the feature above discussed, the only change necessary being the removal of a screw.

It is often desirable to have other apparatus in addition to the secondary air damper controlled in accordance with the position of the valve.

Thus in certain systems it is desirable that a circulating fan motor be turned on when the link member I2! is pivotally. mounted on the pivot pin -'II. This link member I2I'extends up a portion of its distance'between .suppporting plates 48 and 4I andat an intermediate pointls provided with a U-shaped portion I28 extend- The remaining portion of the link I21 extends outside of the plate 4| and is connected to a second link I88 which is pivotally secured at I8I and is provided with a mercury switch carrier I32 in which is disposed a mercury switch I33. The construction of the mercury switch is entirely conventional and in the modification shown in the drawings, the mercury switch is so disposed thatupon tilting in a clockwise direction the switch is moved ,from

open circuit to closed circuit position. 'Inas-' much as the pivot pin 1I is secured to lever member 60 and is hence moved upwardlly upon opening of the valve, -it will be apparent that thereto an arm I40which extends upwardly to the right and is provided with a slot I4 I. -Extending through-the slot I4I is a pin I42, which pin is secured to a disc I43. Disc I43 is rotatably mounted upon a shaft I44, the same shaft upon which gear 54 is secured. Disposed on each side of the disc I43 are washers I45 of friction material. Non-rotatably secured to shaft I44 is a cam disc I46. The disc I46 is non-rotatable with respect to theshaft 144 by reason of the fact that at the point upon which the cam disc I46 is mounted the shaft has one side flattened, as indicated in Figure 3. Cam disc I46 is, however, slidable upon the shaft. Located adjacent to the cam disc I46 is a collar I46 which collar is also slidably mounted'upon shaft I44. Secured on shaft I44 adjacent the outer end thereof is a cupshaped member I46 and between this cup-shaped member and the collar I46 thereis disposed a biasing spring I50. This biasing spring serves to urge collar I46 and consequently cam disc I46,

washerI45 and the disc I43 towards the right, urging these various members into engagement with each other. By reason of the placing of the friction washers I45 on each side of the disc I43, this disc is frictionally mounted on the shaft ril Referringnow to Figure'3; it will be evident that a clockwise rotation of shaft I44 will tend to rotate disc I43 in a clockwise direction. Such clockwise rotation of disc I43 will cause the pin I42 carried thereby to engage the upper edge of the diagrammatically extending slot I4I and thus to rock the lever I36 in a counter-clockwise direction; This will result in engagement of contacts I36 and I31, this engagement taking place after a very slight initial movement of shaft 44.

After these contacts have engaged, it is no longer possible for disc I43-to rotate so that this member slips with respect to shaft I44 as the latter member continues torotate in a clockwise direction. J

' The cam disc I46 is provided with a notch I53, which notch is adapted to assume a vertical position when the valve reaches full open position. The cam I46 is adapted to cooperate with a switch blade I54, which switch blade carries a pair of contacts I55 and I56. The switch blade I54 is, in turn, adapted to cooperate with a composite switch bladecomprising a relative rigid member I51 and a somewhat flexible member] 56 so disposed and the contacts In and m are of such length that contactI55 moves into engage- -ment with'the contact I62 slightlybefore contact I56 moves into engagement with contact I6I. Thetwo sets of contacts are connected in parallel, the two sets being provided for the purpose of giving additional insurance that the circuit controlled thereby will be closed. In other words, under all ordinary circumstances the engagement of contacts I55 and 162 will close the circuit. If for any reason, however, these contacts should be slightly corroded then the circuit will still be closed by contacts I56 and I6I.

As indicated earlier, the cam I46 has a notch I53 which assumes a vertical position when the valve reaches open position. The left-hand end of switch blade I 54 is formed in the shape of a cam follower which is adapted to drop down into the notch I53. Thus when .the valve' reaches open position. switch blade I54 'movesdownwardly causing separation of both contacts I55 and I56 from their respective associated contacts. The function of the switching mechanism which has just been described, including contacts I55, I56, I62 and I6I, is to control the energization of the lifting winding of motor 46. This motor has both a lifting and a holding winding and when the valve reaches the top of its stroke it is desirable that the lifting winding be deenergized to reduce the consumption of power by the motor. I

In Figure, 4, a burner controlsystem is shown employing the improved mechanism of the present invention. In this figure, the apparatus is shownin somewhat schematic form to give a clearer idea as to the electrical connections be tween the various elements thereof and between these elements and the rest of the control apparatus. 1

The motor 46, previously referred to, is shown in this figure as comprising a rotor I64 and a plurality of windings I65'ar'id I66. The winding I65 is a holding winding whereas the winding I66 is a lifting winding. Power for the operation of the system is supplied by a step-down transarm I66 and contact arm I66.

secured to member I51. The rigid member I51 carries a contact I6I and the flexible member a contact I62. The contact carrying members are 7 former indicated by the reference numeral I15. This transformer comprises a high voltage primary I16 and a low'voltage secondary I11. The primary I16 is connected to line wires I16 and ill-leading to a suitable source of power, not

shown.

The operationof the system is controlled by a room thermostat generallyindicated by the referencenumeral I63. This thermostat comprises a bimetallic element I64 to which are secured contact arms I65 and, I66 adapted to cooperate with contacts I61 and I66 respectively. The spacing between contact arm I65v and contact I61 is slightly less than that between contact Thus when the contact arms I65 and I66 are moved to the left by the cooling of bimetal I64, engagement will first be effected between contact I61 and contact arm I 65,-then between contact I66 and contact arm I66.

As previously indicated, the switch I33 can be used for the control of a fan motor. This fan motor is used in a forced warmalr system for driving an air circulating fan to provide forced circulation of heated air to the space being v heated. This fan motor is indicated in Figure 4 by the .referencenum'eral I96.

Operation -The various elements are shown in the position occupied when the temperature adjacent thermostat I66 is at or slightly above the desired value. Let it be assumed that this temperature begins to fall so as to cause engagement first of 5 contact um I66 with contact I61 and then of contact arm I66 with contact I66. No circuits are established until arm' I66 engages'contact I66. "As soon as such engagement does take place, howevena circuit is established to the holding 1o winding I66 ofmotor 66 as follows: from the upper'end of transformer secondary I11 through conductors I92 and I96, contact I61,contact arms I66 and I66, contact I66, conductors I96 and I96,

holding winding I66 and conductor I91 to the 15 other end of secondary I11. At the same time, a

circuit is established to the lifting winding I66 as 6 follows: from the upper end of secondary I11 thrugh conductors I92 and I96, contact .I61, c0n-' tact arms I66 and I96, contact I66, conductors I96 and I96, lifting winding I66, conductor I96,

switch blade I66, contacts I66, I66, I62 and I6I, switch blade I61, and conductor I99 to the other terminal of secondary I11.

The establishment of these two circuits to field .25 windings I66 and I66 will cause rotation of the motor I66, which acting through the gear train, causes a rotationiof gear 66 in a clockwise direction. The rotation of gear 66 in a clockwise direction caum cam disc I66 and disc I66 to also 90 rotate in-a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrows adjacent these members. The initial rotation of disc I66 causes closure of contacts I66 and I61. The closure of these two contacts causes 'a holding circuit to be established to the two 35 field windings I66 and I66. Considering the lifting winding I66, the circuit thereto is as follows:

from the upper end of secondary I11 through conductors I62 and I96, contact I61,'contact arm I66, bimetal I66, conductor 266, contacts I66 and .40 I61, lever I66, conductors 2", 262 and I96, lifting winding I66, conductor. I96, switch blade I66, contacts I66, I66, I62 and I6I, switch blade I61 and conductor I96 tothe other terminal of secondary I11. Inasmuch salt is obvious that as long as .46 the switch including switch blades I66 and I61 is closed, the two windings t66 and I66 are connected in parallel, it is believed unnecessary to also specifically trace this circuit to field windin 60 ,It will be noted from the foregoing description I that the closure of contacts I66 and I61 causesa circuit tobe established for field windings I66 and I66 which is independent of the engagement of contact I66 with contact I66. Thus the motor 66 will not become deenergized until contact arm I66has'separatedfromcontact I61. Inthismanner, a temperature differential is required between the opening and closing of the valve and it.

isassured that a chatterlngactlon will not re-.

M sult when the contact arm I66 first insecurely en gages contact I66. v The rotation of gear 66, as previously explained, causes the pin 69 to engage the hook 66- raisingmember "upwardly. The upward movement of member 61 causes the lever assembly 6| to rotate about the bushing '66, moving the valve andconductor 266 to the other linewire I16. It is thus assured that the fan motor I66 will be energized simultaneously with the opening of the valve. 1

As soon as the valve has reached fullyopen po- 5 sition, the cam follower of switch blade I66 drops down into the notch I66 of cam disc I66 permitting the switch blade I66 to move away from switch blade I61 causing separation of the associated contacts. This results in the circuits pre-' 1o viously traced through lifting winding I66 being interrupted so that the holding winding I66 is the only winding which is now energized. By

providing two windings and dee'nergizing one of these windings, the consumption of power during 16 the time that the valve is open is considerably reduced. This not only results. in a reduction in the cost of operation but also insures that the motor will not overheat and cause sticking of the bearings. It is to be understood that it is highly 29 necessary thatthe bearings of. the motor do not stick to even the slightest extent since a small resistance offered to the turning of the motor rotor when amplified through the gear train will exert considerable opposition to movement of the 66 lever assembly H in valve closing direction by the biasing spring 66.

Under normal operation, the valve will stay open until the thermostat is satisfied, that is, un-' til contact arm I96 separates from contact I61. when this takes place the energizing circuit to holding winding I66 will be interrupted with the result that the motor is completely deenergized. The spring 66 is now able to rotate the lever assembly 6I in a; counterclockwise direction and thus move the valve to closed position;

'As indicated in the earlier portion of the specification, it is often desirable for an experienced operator to move the valve toopen position and maintain the valve in this position. This'is par- 4a therein. As also indicated earlier, tmsis done by removing the cover 66, grasping the finger piece 92 and rotating the lever assembly 6I in a clockwise direction. When the valve is in substantially ope nposition, the pin 96 is moved inward- 137' so that the inward end of'this pin rests un- 69 demeath the lever assembly II and holds the same in a position correspondingto substantially valve open position. It is to be understood that the valve is-not as-completely open, however, as it is when the same is moved to'open position by 66 reason of operation of the motor. The moving of pin 96 inwardly, it will be recalled, caused the closureof contacts 66 and 99. These contacts are indicated schematically in Figure 4. Closure of these two contacts results in a circuit being es; do tablished to the motor which is independent of the thermostat I66, the circuit. to lifting winding I being as follows: from the upper end of transformer secondary I11 through conductor! 262 and I66, lifting winding I66, conductor "I96: witch blades l66 and I61 and their contacts, and conductor I69 to the other terminal of secondary I11. In view of the fact that the valve is not in fully open position, switch blades 19 I66 and I61 will beincontact engaging position.

It is believed unnecessary to trace-the circuit to holding winding I66 under these conditions inasmuch as it is obviously'connected in parallel with field winding I66. The presence of'these ar- 1 ergizing circuits for the field windings results in the motor being energized as soon as power is restored, causing the valve to be moved towards fully open position. The further movement of the lever assembly 8| releases the pressure upon pin 94 and allows this pin to return to the position shown in Figure 2 in which it is out of the path of lever ii. The returning of pin to the position to which it is biased also results in the opening of contacts 34 and 93. The opening of these contacts results in the motor againbeing under the control of the thermostat and the valve either remains in open position or goes to closed position depending upon whether the thermostat is calling for heat or not.

It will be seen from the above that I have provided an improved valve and damper operating construction wherein it is impossible to open the valve by manipulation of the secondary air damp- 'er, this construction, moreover beingextremely simple in nature. It will further be seen that 1- have provided a generally improved motorized valve assembly for use in the control of a burner.

Species of Figures In Figure 5, there is shown a form of my invention which is somewhat different than that of Figures 1 to 4 as regards the structure of the valve and the method of fastening the power unit to the valve casing. .Since the only difference between this form and that of Figures 1 to 4 is in. this portion of the valve structure, the complete motor and valve assembly has not been shown in nut previouslymentioned. A guide sleeve 223' Figure 5. s

- Referring to Figure 5, the control valve which is generally designated by the reference numeral 209 has a valve casing 2i! having inlet and outlet connections 2 and M2 respectively. Valve casing 2M has a transverse wall 3 having a port opening 2 therein which is encompassed by an annular shoulder'to form a valve seat 2i5. A

. valve disc assembly corresponding to the members 2ll of the previous species is threaded onto the.

plug H9 and serves to clamp the assembly together., Interposed between this nut and the valve.d;sc assembly 2" is a diaphragm 231 and- "a cup-shaped washer 225. The entire assemblage including the valve disc 2| audits washer 2i=. plug 2", the diaphragm 231 and the washer 235 are securely clamped together by means ofthe which is secured to a supportingmember 224 serves to guide the movement of the valve stem 22L Supporting member 224 is clamped to the valve body 2! by means of screws 233. Interposed between'the supporting member 224 and the valve body is the outer edge -of the'dlaphragm 231. The outer edge of the supporting member 224 is curved upwardly and terminates in a/narrow. horizontally extending flan e 22!. .Restin on this flange 225 is a cup-shaped baseplate 228 for the power unit. This base plate 223 is held a in position on supporting member 224 by clamping strips 221: These clamping strips are provided with ears which extend through slots 223 cup-shaped recess for the car 24!.

- be enough to appreciably affect the operation of in the downwardly extending flange of the cupshaped base member 223. A screw 223 is associated with each of the clamping stripsfl'lg ex; tending through the base member 226 and screw threadedly engaging with the clamping strip 221. While only one such clamping strip 22'! has been shown, it is to be understood that at least two of these will be provided at spaced points around the periphery of supporting member 224.

The power assembly is identical to that of the previously described species and comprises a pair of plates 240. Each of these plates 240 is provided at its lower left-hand corner with a tongue 2 adjacent which tongue 2 is a slot 242. The

lower surface of the tongue 2 is slightly below 1 the remaining lower surface of the plate 226. The base member 226 is provided with'a pair of slots 243. Adjacent each or these slots 243, the material is struck up as at 244 to provide-a The assembly including the two plates 240 is hingedly' secured at one end by the tongues 24l projecting through the slots 243'and into the cup-shaped'recess 244. At the other end, the power assembly is clamped downwardly by means 1 of a bar 253 which extends between the two uprights 240 and is provided with a longitudinally extendi ng flange 25l This flange is provided with an opening 252,- through which a-screw 254 ex- 1 tends. This screw 254 is threadedly engaged with the base member 226. D

In assembly the power unit with the base-plate 22G, it is merely necessary to tip the power unit so as to permit the tongues 24! to enter their respective slots 243. The power unit is then tipped to resume its normally vertical position with the result that the tongues enter into the cup-shaped recesses 244 and so that the opening 252 is brought into alignment with the associated threaded opening in memberzzfifi for the screw 254." The screw-254 is then placed in position and tightened up with the result that by means of merely one screw the power assembly is securely fastened to the base member 226.

In many instances it is desirable to rotate the position of the power. unit'with respect to the valve. The position of the valve is of course determined by the' direction of the gas line leading to the furnace. It often happens, however, that the secondary air damper, for example, may be In a position such that the power unit should desirably be turned. With the present modification this can be done in an extremely simple manner.

All that it is necessary to do is toloosemthe screws. 229'whi'ch are associated with the clamping strips 221. When these screws are slightly loosened, the power unit can bereadily turned with respect to the valve body, the'stem 22l screwvery slightly the position assumed by the lever assembly 2". Since the rotation would never exceed 360 degrees and since the pitch of the threads of stem 22 j is relatively small this change in the annular position of lever 2 would never I the valve.

It is often desirable in servicing operations to be able'to conveniently replace one power unit withanother.- It is the power units which .are' more apt to eventually need repairand replace-'- me nt. With the arrangement of the previous 1 species, it is necessary to shut oi the gas to the system before the power unit is removed since it is impossible to remove the power unit without permitting gas to flow through the valve. 'In the modification of Figure 5,- it is possible to remove one power unit and replace it without opening the valve. In order to do this all that it is necessary to do is to unscrewthe clamping screws 226 and remove the clamping strips 221. Thereafter the power unit can simply be rotated until the yoke 62 has been screwed off of the valve stem 22!. Since the pressure of the power unit is on the valve stem during this unscrewing. operation there is no danger of the valve being opened. The yoke of the new power unit is then screwed onto the valve stem 22l and the clamping strips 221 are replaced and clamped in position. It will be readily apparent that this operation can. be

26 performed within but a few moments without at any time permitting the valve 266 to open.

It will thus be seen that with the arrangement of Figure 5, the assembly of the power unit to its base plate is accomplished with a minimum of screws and consequently in an extremely quick and simple manner. Moreover, with this species, the power unit can be quickly and easily rotated to any desired position with respect to the valve unit. Furthermore, the power unit can be readily replaced at any time without disturbing the closed position of the valve.

} Species of Figure 6 In the previously described species, the valve unit was intended'to be employed with a furnace f installation in which the secondary air damper is biased to open position. This type of, structure is commonly referred to as an indirect acting type inasmuch as during thepull on "the secondary air damper occurs during the closing movement of the valveand isfor the purpose of pulling the secondary air damper closed. Inthe direct acting type of installation, the secondary air damper is biased closed so that during the opening cycle both the valve and the secondary air damper are pulled open against, their respective biasing means. In Figure 6, the lever assembly of a direct acting form of my invention is shown. This lever assembly is designated by the reference numeral 2" and comprises two levers 262 and 266 both of which are pivotally mounted at 266. As shown inJ-"igure 6, lever 262 has its right-hand portion in front of lever 266. This lever portion is then moved upwardly at 266 and rearwardly at 261' and thence downwardly so that it extends in the a rear of lever m. The extreme left-hand end or 1 the lever 262 is again bent forwardly so as to lie in the same plane as the right-hand end.. This left-hand end is provided withopenings 266 to which a chain 216 or other similar-fastening 66 means can be secured, such fastening means;

. leading-to a secondary air damper 21]. It will be noted that the secondary air damper-2H is pivo al y mounted at 212 and is biased by reason of its weight to closed position.

" The lever 266 is the-lever which is associated with the valve and with the actuating means.

The yoke 66 is pivotally secured to this lever.

Also secured to the lever is the member "which is provided at its upper end with a hooked portion'66 operatedby apin 66 carried 5! fiearil.

The biasing spring 66 is secured-to the extreme right-hand end of lever 262. spring serves to rotate,lever.262 in a counter-clockwise direction so as to cause the rearwardly extending por- 7 tion 2610f lever 262 to bear againstthe upper 1 oi the power unit cover.

ticaily to rotate lever 266 in a clockwise direction. 'Such clockwise movement of lever 266 lifts the yoke 66 and moves the associated valve to open position. The clockwise movement of lever 266 also serves to rotate lever 262 in. a clockwise direction by reason of the upper edge of lever 266 bearing against the rearwardly extending P rtion 261 of lever 262. The secondary air damper 21! is thus'also moved to open position. Upon deenergization of the motor, the biasing spring 66 is effective-to rotate lever 2621p a counter-clockwise direction to close the secondary air damper 21!. Such counter-clockwise movement of lever- 262 also imparts to' lever 263 a counter-clockwise movement to close the valve.

It will be understood that it is only thelefthand portion of lever 262 which extends outside If the user of the heat- 'ing equipment attempts to open; the valve by moving up on the lever 262 all that happens will be that the lever 262 will be rotated around the pivot 266 against the biasing action of spring 63. The only way in which the valve can be opened is for the userto remove the cover and grasp the finger piece 266 at the left-hand end of lever 266. When this finger piece is moved upwardly the entire lever assembly 26| is rotated in a clockwise direction'in the same manner as during operation by the motor. The method of holding the valve. in the open position, when manually moved there, is the same as in the species of Figures 1 to 4 and the mechanism for accomplishing this is not shown in this figure.

Species of Figure 7' which is generallyjindicated by the reference numeral 266.consists of-two levers 266 and 261. The lever- 266 is pivoted at 266 and is the lever which forms the connection between the operating-mechanism and valve. This lever is pivotally secured to the yoke 66 and has secured thereto the hook member. 61. The biasing spring a is pivotally mounted on the pin which pivotally connects the lever 266 to the yoke .66. The lever f m is provided at arr-intermediate portion thereof with a forwardly projecting car 266, which car "overhangs the upper edge of lever-266. Timex-.- treme left-hand end o'f-lever 261 is bent forwardly -oas to bring the same. into the plane of: lever 266. Provided in this left-hand end are openings 26l for the reception of a chain or other fastening means for connecting the end with a secondary air damper (not'shown). interposed between the pivot point 2662mm an ear,262 on the lever 261 isa coil spring266. This spring 266 serves to bias theJever 261 ina counter-clockwise di-- rection and thus to hold the ear 266 in engagemerit with the upper surface of lever 266.

In the species of Figure "I, I have shown a some- During normal operation of the system, the

the motor, the biasing spring 83 serves to rotate I 10 the lever 299 in a counter-clockwise direction while the biasing spring, 293 serves to cause the lever 29! to follow the lever 296. Thus during the normal "operation of the valve the two levers 299 and 29'! move as a unit, as in the preceding 15 species. v If the-user oithe heating equipment attempts to open the valve by grasping the left-hand end of handle 2", which is the only portion projecting outsideoi the cover, the movement of lever 29'! '20 will have no effect other than to open the secondary air damper. Such movement of the lever will a merely result in the same pivoting about pivot pin 95. against the ,tension of spring 293. Spring 293 is preferably of a type, which spring rate does not 2| increase greatly as it is compressed. Moreover, the arrangement is such that the increase in spring rate is compensated for so that the action of spring 293 in 'tending'to rotate lever 28'! with respect to lever 2B6 isconstant throughout the .39 relative movement of lever 28! with respect to ing. If some means were not provided for insuring that the effect of spring 293 remained sub- ,stantially constant, the manual movement of lever 231 might, towards the end ofsuch movement, result in the movement ,of lever 285 by.

reason of the movement of lever 28! being imparted through-the spring 293. In the arrange- 45 ment ofthe present invention. this is entirely avoided.

While I have shown certain specific embodiments of my invention for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that the invention is 0 limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

' I claim .as my invention:

1. In a control system comprising a heater having a fuel burner and a damper, a valve biased to closed position for controlling the flow of fuelto I the burner, electrically operated power means associated with said valve for opening .said valve, means operatively-v connected to said valve and having a portion projecting outwardly from the power means, said outwardly projected portion 00 being connected to said damper to control the p0-' sition of the damper in accordance with the position of the .valve, and means including a strain release connection between the outwardly pro- "jecting portion of said previously named means Cl and the portion connected to said valve to prevent manual opening of said valve by manipulation of said projecting portion-of said previously named means.

A 2 "In control system comprisinga heater hav- [0 ing aiuel burner and a damper, a valve biased to closed position for controlling the flow of fuel .to the burner, powermeans associated with said valve for opening said valve, means operatively outwardly projected portion being connected to said damper to control the position of the damper in accordance with the position of the valve, means including a strain release connection between .the outwardly projecting portion of said a previously named means and the portion connected to said valve to prevent manual opening of said valve by manipulation of said projecting portion v of said previously named means, and means for, preventing opening of said valve by said power 14 means when said strain release connection is extended.

3. In a control system comprising a heater having a fuel burner and a damper, a valve biased to closed position for controlling the. flow of fuel to 1 the bumer electrically operated power means associated with said valve for opening said valve, a cover enclosing said power means, means operatively connected to said valve and having a portion extending through said cover, said outwardly 4 extending portion being connected to said damper to control the position of the same in accordance with the position of the valve, and means'including a strain release connection between the portion of'said previously named means outside of 2] said cover and said valveto prevent manual opening of said valve by manual manipulation of the portion of said previously named means extending outside of said cover.

4. A motorized'valve assembly for use in the a control of a fiuidiuel burning furnace having a damper, said assembly comprising a valve, a motor, means including a reduction gear train connecting said motor with said valve, 9. member connected with said valve and adapted to be con- 3 nected to a damper for operating the same in accordance with movements of said valve, said member beingjconnected to said valve through a strain release connection yieldable in valve opening direction whereby said valve can not be man- 4 ually opened by actuation of said member, and

means to prevent opening of said valve by said motor if said strain release connection is extended.

v5. A motorized valve assembly for use in the 4: control of a fluid fuel burning furnace having a damper, said assembly comprising a valve, a motor, means including a reduction gear train connecting said motor with said valve, a member connected with said valve and adapted to be con- 5 nected to a damper for operating the same in accordance with movements of said valve, said member being connected to said valve through a strain release connection yieldable in valve opening direction whereby said valve can not be manu 'ually opened by actuation of said member, and

means including a member projectable into the teeth of one of the gears of said gear train to prevent opening of said valve, by said motor if said strain release. connection is extended.

6. A motorized valve assembly for use in the control or afluid fuel burning furnace having a damper, said assembly comprising a valve, '9. motor, means including a reduction gear train connecting said motor with said valve, a member 5| connectedwith said valve and adapted to be connected'to a damper-for operating the same in accordance with movements of said valve, said member being connected to said valve through a strain release connection yieldable in valve open- It ing direction whereby said valve can not be manuallyopened' by actuation of said member, and means to prevent opening of said valve by said motor if said strain release connection is extended, said last named means comprising a lever 7 9,208,613 "tiltableinto the teeth of one of the gears of said gear train and a connection between said lever and said damper actuating member effective to tilt said lever when said member is moved independently of said'valve.

7. In a control system comprising aheater have ing a fuel burner and a secondary air damper, a

- valve for controlling the fiow of 'fuel to the burner, means biasing-said valve to closed position, power means associated with said valve for opening said valve, means operatively connected to said valve and having a portion projecting outwardly from the power means, said outwardly projecting portion being connected tothe secondary air damper to control the postion 0f the damper in accordance with the position of the valve, and a strain release connection between said outwardly projecting portion of the previcontrol of a fluid fuel burning furnace having' a damper, said assembly comprising a valve, a motor, means including a lever connecting said motor and said valve, a second lever connected to said first lever by a one-way strain release connection and adapted to be connected to a damper for operating the same simultaneously with the valve, said strain release connection being yieldable only when a force is applied directly to said second lever in valve opening direction, and a single biasing means acting through said second lever and said strain release connection to hold said levers .in their normal relative positions as well as to bias said valve to closed position.

9. A motorized valve assembly for use in the control of a. fluid fuel burning furnace having a damper, said assembly comprising a valve, a motor, a reduction gear train having the high speed end thereof connected to said motor, a

pivotally mounted lever pivotally connected to yieldable when a force is applied directly to said 7 second lever in valve opening direction, anda single biasing means acting through said second lever and said one way connection to hold said levers in their normal relative positions as well as to bias said valve to closed position.

10. A motorized valve assembly for use in the .control of a fiuidfuel burning furnace having a damper, said assembly comprising a valve, a motor, means including a lever connecting said motor and said valve, a second lever pivotally connected to said first lever, biasing means acting -on said second lever on one side of said pivot point, said biasing means tending to move said lever in valve closing direction,.and an abutment carried by said second lever on the other side of and hence urge said valve towards closed position and whereby movement of said second lever in-valve opening direction imparts no movement to said valve.

11. A motorized valve assembly for use in the control of a fluid fuel burning furnace having a damper, said assembly comprising a valve, 9. motor, means including a lever connecting said motor andsaid valve, a second lever pivotally connected to the first lever, biasing means acting on said first lever to urge said valve towards closed position, an abutment on said second lever and adapted to engage said first lever in valve closing direction, and biasing means between said levers urging said second lever to assume a'position relative to said first lever in which said abutment engages said second lever so that said levers normally move as a single unit but so that if said second'lever is moved in valve opening direction, said biasing means yields to prevent such movement being transmitted to said first lever, the points at which said biasing means acts on said levers being relatively disposed so that the biasing means exerts a substantially constant force regardless of the relative position of said levers.

12. A motorized valve assembly for' use in the control of a. fluid fuel burning furnace having a damper, said assembly comprising a valve, 'a motor, a reduction gear train having the high speed end thereof connected to said 'motdn'a pivotally mounted lever pivotally connected to said valve andto the high speed gear of said gear train, a second lever pivoted to said first lever at a point displaced from the pivot point of the first lever, and adapted to be connected to a damper for operating the same simultaneously with the valve, means for limiting the movement of said second lever with respect to said first lever in valve closing direction, biasing means acting on said second lever in valve closing direction tohold said levers I rigid with respect to each other and to bias said valve to closed position, an element adapted to project into the teeth of one of the gears of said gear train, and a connection between said pivotal mounting of the first lever whereby when said levers are moved as a unit said element is not projected into the gear teeth but when said second lever is moved relative to said first lever, said element is so projected.

13. In a control system having condition changing apparatus and a plurality. of control devices therefor, said control devicespeing movable from normal inactive positions to active positions, electrical motor means associated with a first of said devices for moving said device to its active position, a housing enclosing said motor means, means operatively connectedto said first device and having a portion projecting outwardly through said housing and connected to said other control device, and means including a strain release connection between the outwardly projecting portion 'of said previously named means and the portion connected to said first control device to prevent manual movement of said first control device by.n 1anipulation of said projecting portion of said previously named means.

14. In a control system having condition changing apparatus and a plurality cit-control devices therefor, said control devices being movable from normal inactive positions to active positions, motor means associated with a first of said devices for'movin'g said device to its active position, a housing enclosing said motor means.

element and said second lever at-the point of vice and other control device, means 10 means operatively connected to said first dehaving a portion projecting outwardly said housing and connected to said including a strain release connection between theoutwardly proje'cting portionof said previously named means and the portion connected to said first control device to prevent manual movement of said first through control device by manipulation of said projecting portion of said previously named means, and means for preventing movement oi. said first device by saidmotor means when said strain release connection is extended.

15. In a control system having condition ch n apparatus and a plurality of control devices .thereior, said control devices being movable fromv normal inactive positions to active positions, spring means biasing a first of said devioes'to its active position, motor means assoto said first device and to said first controldev'ice to movement of said first control device by manipuciated with said first device for moving said device to its active position, a housing enclosing said motor means, means operatively connected having a portion projecting outwardly through said cover and con- "nected to said other control device,'and'means including a strain release connection between the outwardly projecting portion otsaid previously. named means and the portion connected lation of said outwardly projectingportion of said previously named means, said strain release connection including said spring means whereby said spring means tends of said previously named means in their normal relative positions as well as to bias said first device to its inactive position. 4

' BENJAMIN CYR.

prevent manual 10 to hold' the two portions 15 gERTI'FIcATE OF comcnon.

jaitent n6. 2,'205,615.- 4 June u, 19110.

BENJAMIN cam. It is hereby 'certifield that error appears the-printqd speqifi'catiqn of the abov pu mbered patent requiring coz rection as follows: Page lL first olmnn, line 7l,'for th wofd "relative" read re1gt1 re1y-- pigs 6, sec- 0nd column, Iine 52, for' "assembly" read --ass embling-; page 10, first colm, 11:16 l9,"c1a1m 15, for-"active" mad --1rinctive--; and that the said Letters Pgtent she 111d be re adyv ith this correction therein that the game miy-confom to the redrgbf thepase in the- P atent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5rd day of September}. g. 19;;0.

. Henry Van Arsdale, (Sea-1) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

